diff --git a/playbooks/groups/buildhw.yml b/playbooks/groups/buildhw.yml
index 43414dfb30..4f57c5a627 100644
--- a/playbooks/groups/buildhw.yml
+++ b/playbooks/groups/buildhw.yml
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
     when: env == 'staging' and 'runroot' in group_names
 
   - koji_builder
-  - { role: bkernel, when: inventory_hostname.startswith(('bkernel','buildhw-x86-01.rdu3')) }
+  - { role: bkernel, when: "inventory_hostname.startswith(('bkernel', 'buildhw-x86-01.rdu3'))" }
   - { role: linux-system-roles.nbde_client, when: "inventory_hostname.startswith(('bkernel', 'buildhw'))" }
   - { role: serial-console, when: "inventory_hostname.startswith(('bkernel', 'buildhw-x86'))" }
   - hosts